There were some worries that this was a hoax, but since it appeared (albeit briefly) on korg.de, it's looking more real now. A new analog MS-20, the size of the Legacy Controller with mini keys, patch jacks and knobs.

No MIDI Out mentioned in the specs I saw posted to the Korg Germany site, which has since (reportedly) removed the info. Here's what somebody translated from German:

The same engineers that developed the original MS-20 in 1978 have reproduced the circuits true to the original. The physical dimensions of the original are reduced to 86% without changing the look of the timeless classic.

Features

Complete and true to the original reproduction of the original circuits by the engineers responsible for the MS-20
2VCO / 2VCA / 2VCF / 2EG / 1LFO structure
self-oscillating (?) high-pass/low-pass filter with unique distortion
external signal processor (ESP)
extremely flexible patching-system
True to the original reproduction of every aspect of the original even packaging and handbooks
MIDI-IN and USB connectors_________________Current and recent work on Soundcloud

It seems like that.
Let's hope it can be USB Powered too, that would be really great I think.

I doubt it will sound exactly the same, but for that price, I think it will still be a good bet, and I'm sure it will be a pretty good synth.

Just hope they sell well and Korg reproduces the whole series.
I have been wanting to start a modular system for a while now and if they do that, I'd expand the MS-20 with 2 or 3 MS-50s to get a really nice modular system
Oh... and a SQ-10 and maybe and MS-10 or a second MS-20

That's a killer price, and Korg have IMHO stolen Moog's thunder - although the sub phatty seems quite a decent synth and is reasonably priced, It's more of a keyboardist's instrument than a synthesist's, and just can't match the MS-20's sonic depth. It's a very long time since I've seen such excitement over a synth launch as over this one from Korg.

As for Roland and Yamaha...Roland's most exciting new product is a USB interface (woo...hoo... ) and Yamaha seems to have lost interest comlpetely, and focused their efforts on acoustic instruments and industrial audio (live PA, broadcast, and suchlike - where their offerings seem fine but not especially interesting). They're large enough to roll on under their own momentum for years to come, but if I were an investor I'd be asking where they're headed.

That's a killer price, and Korg have IMHO stolen Moog's thunder - although the sub phatty seems quite a decent synth and is reasonably priced, It's more of a keyboardist's instrument than a synthesist's, and just can't match the MS-20's sonic depth. It's a very long time since I've seen such excitement over a synth launch as over this one from Korg.
.

Yeah, the Moog Sub Phatty sounds great in the epic 28 min. vid featuring Amos of Moog, but if I had to choose between the two, it comes down to the one I think I'll have the most fun just patching the hell out of, and making all kinds of noise. Also, the MS-20 Mini's got the external signal processor which attempts to convert audio into control voltage signals, sometimes with hilarious results._________________Current and recent work on Soundcloud

I would have liked to see an updated case to the synth. Something along the lines of what Mini and the VW Beetle did. I don't find the MS 20 all that visually attractive. Looks like a WW2 relic. But Korg don't have to go to an effort and re-imagine. These things will sell themselves. It's all about nostalgia.

But Korg don't have to go to an effort and re-imagine. These things will sell themselves. It's all about nostalgia.

Most of the excitement that I have seen in forums is over the price rather than nostalgia.

Gotta give credit to Korg, though, for recognizing a market opportunity and taking advantage. 300,000 people bought the iMS-20 from the App Store. Sales of Monotrons and Monotribes must have been also very good. Korg must have looked at those figures and thought "Holy moly, we can make a KILLING if we made an MS-20 again"_________________Current and recent work on Soundcloud

although the sub phatty seems quite a decent synth and is reasonably priced, It's more of a keyboardist's instrument than a synthesist's, and just can't match the MS-20's sonic depth.

I would have to disagree. As a one time owner of the original MS20, the fact that it didn't have oscillator sync or pwm really annoyed me. The moog has both those and therefore has a much greater sonic depth. The patch panel's usefulness is limited by the lack of modules in the synth (one of the EG's is almost useless). Couple the MS20 with a MS50 (or other external modular gear) and things get much better. On its own though, your going to exhaust all the interesting patching options in well under an hour.

All that said. The Korg is very well priced and I am a big fan of the Modulation generator and High pass filter.

Don't get me wrong, Korg in my mind are on the ball. Yes the price is great and will certainly shift a lot of units. I totally understand the reasoning behind releasing this replica. Originals go for quite a bit of money and obviously there is demand. I get why it had to look exactly like the original. It is nostalgia, retro or whatever. Either way I find the original and this rather uninspiring visually. Yeah but its the resonance on that filter maaaan!

I'd be intersted in seeing where Korg go from here in terms of the analogue thing. If I had the spare cash I'd certainly buy one... and the rest of the recent analogue 'tron' and 'tribe' stuff.

What I'd like to see next from Korg is a Nord Electro killer - the CX3 organ and EP-1 electric piano engines from Kronos in a standalone keyboard, with drawbars and the whole bit.

I don't really expect a lot of innovation from Korg in the pure synthesis department, although a King Korg X with the MOD-7 engine added to the existing VA engine and more CV I/O would be awesome, imo. What I instead anticipate is more re-releases/repackaing of their analog tech, like the sequencer module for the MS-20, because that's where the money is going to be for them in the near future._________________Current and recent work on Soundcloud

I would have to disagree. As a one time owner of the original MS20, the fact that it didn't have oscillator sync or pwm really annoyed me. The moog has both those and therefore has a much greater sonic depth. The patch panel's usefulness is limited by the lack of modules in the synth (one of the EG's is almost useless). Couple the MS20 with a MS50 (or other external modular gear) and things get much better. On its own though, your going to exhaust all the interesting patching options in well under an hour.

All that said. The Korg is very well priced and I am a big fan of the Modulation generator and High pass filter.

Agreed! Many good points here.
It is important to recognize the originial MS-20 for what it is, and if this new one is basically the same, then obviously the MS-20 is still the MS-20. I like the MS-20 for what it does, but is NOT a modular synth. One thing I really hate with the new mini MS-20 is the mini keyboard._________________A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"

Does it have a mini keyboard, like the MS20ic (legacy)? From what I've seen on the videos it looks like a full sized keyboard. That would be a deal breaker for me too._________________My tunes available here
(check out the new Electro-Funk LP)

I imagine the keys are like the micro-x, which is still a tad small. The Mini 20 is a according to the specs 86% of the original MS 20, and the Legacy controller is 84%. I already have the Legacy controller.

IMO, I find it a real pain to move from full scale keys and to mini keys. I reckon this is yet another YMMV-issue. I'm not used to actually look at what my fingers are dong on the keyboard while playing and adjust accordingly. Adjusting to various types of keyboard action and what have you works great though.. but not with keyboard size. I could always use an external keyboard, but that kinda kills the ergonomics re how I would play the real thing._________________A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"

BTW, the mini MS 20 is probably very nice and the price is excellent._________________A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"

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